KnightForce Tres (La Patron KnightForce Book 3) Page 18

  “Same.”

  Renee grinned and then looked at Jasmine.

  “I’ll find a place she can wait.” Jasmine knew Silas would demand Mélange be returned to the cell under guard.

  “Not the cell, Jazz. She’s not a criminal. According to you, she’s family. And family have to look out for each other, right?”

  Having a revised version of her words thrown in her face didn’t sit well with Jasmine. “Yes, family looks out for each other, that’s why I’m not allowing someone I don’t know around my children, grandkids, brothers, sisters…you understand.”

  Renee met her stare and then nodded.

  Mélange stroked her arm. “It’s okay, the cell’s not bad and it won’t be long. Just knowing you want to give me a chance made my day. I’m so happy.”

  Jasmine ignored Renee’s glare and nodded. Mélange understood, Renee would get over it or not. Her lover was still an unknown.

  “I’m sorry about this, and promise not to take too long.” Renee stroked Mélange’s cheek.

  Jasmine left to go into the kitchen to give them a few moments of privacy. Minutes later, Renee entered and walked over until she stood very close to Jasmine.

  “Why are you putting her in a cell? You said she wasn’t a criminal, and that she’s my wife or mate, or whatever you called her?” she asked in a harsh whisper.

  Jasmine pushed Renee back a step and met her gaze. “She’s yours, not mine. So I’m not allowing anyone I don’t know or trust around my kids or in my house.”

  “You would’ve allowed Mandy to see the kids.”

  “After five years moderating your debates with Mandy, I knew her.” Jasmine crossed her arms and waited.

  “The kids, all of them, Rese and Rone, they’re …half wolf?” Renee whispered, looking over her shoulder.

  “Yes, and she hears everything we’re saying, so don’t bother whispering.”

  Renee jerked. “Really?”

  “Excellent hearing and smell and taste. Most can smell lies, so don’t bother telling her you don’t want her, she’ll know the truth,” Jasmine said to make a point. The game playing had to stop. Renee felt a lot more for Mélange than she wanted to admit.

  “Wow, that’s awesome and scary in a weird way.” Renee glanced toward the door. “I’m mad you never told me about all of this. I wouldn’t have talked, I swear.”

  “I couldn’t, it’s not just my secret but a whole Nation, plus my kids,” Jasmine said. “There were so many times I wished we could share things happening. I missed being able to talk to you about any and everything. I hope we can do that again soon.”

  Renee looked at her for a moment and then nodded. “I can’t ever tell anyone about this, can I? Bad things can happen, right?”

  Jasmine heard the disappointment in her sister’s voice. For a person who studied civilizations, this would be the hardest thing for Renee.

  “No, never. Not if you want to protect your family and your mate, you cannot.”

  Renee yelped as Mélange brushed against her in wolf form. Grabbing Jasmine’s arm, she stood slightly to the side looking at the brown wolf with white stockings in front of her. For several seconds no one spoke. Renee swallowed hard but her grip on Jasmine’s arm never lessened.

  When Renee didn’t respond, Jasmine held out her hand. Mélange sniffed and then licked it. Jasmine rubbed the top of her head and then behind her ears.

  “That’s Mélange?” Renee finally asked in a tremulous voice.

  “Yes, hold out your hand like I did.” Jasmine waited for Renee to comply. Mélange licked Renee’s hand several times until Renee relaxed enough to touch her head, then behind her ears. Mélange moved closer and rubbed against Renee’s legs.

  Finally Renee smiled and looked wide-eyed at Jasmine. “Oh shit, this is un-fucking-believable.”

  Jasmine nodded, glad Renee accepted the truth.

  Mélange morphed back to human and stared at Renee. Jasmine watched the two of them struggle for words and left them in the kitchen to work things out.

  “Jasmine?”

  “Yes, Wolfie?”

  “Hawke, Asia, and a team are going to Pennsylvania to track down a lead on Ms. Trant.”

  Jasmine looked over her shoulder at her sister and Mélange locked in an embrace. “I’ve been playing the role of cupid, rather well I must say, and missed everything. What happened?”

  “Cupid?”

  “My sister. Tell me what happened.”

  Chapter 31

  Countdown clock: 35 hours remaining…

  “There’s a call on Armin Bret’s car. It’s been spotted on Highway 64, just crossed the Illinois state line, Sir,” one of the trainees said to Angus.

  “Good, get me eyes and ears on the situation,” Angus said, locking away his research file on ways to neutralize the chameleon. So far he hadn’t discovered anything that would assist in combating the power of the crystal, but nature was a study in balance. Somewhere, another property would counteract the crystals, he simply needed to continue his search until he found it.

  “Angus,” Kurt, Alpha of Illinois said. “The car in question refused to stop when officers turned on blue lights. The driver swerved in and out of lanes, placing other drivers’ lives in jeopardy. When more police cars joined the chase, the driver ran into a concrete divider on the highway. The car flipped into three other vehicles and caught fire. It’s on the news.”

  “Pack?” Angus asked, hoping for a low number of casualties.

  “Three bruised but recovering. Human death toll five. The driver, Armin Bret is dead, not from the accident but from something around his neck. According to a pack member who was one of the first to arrive on the scene, whatever was on his neck snapped it and then dissolved.”

  “Dissolved?” They confiscated boxes of necklaces from the Liege and none had that capability. Someone had tampered with the original device.

  “Yes, it’s gone. No proof he ever wore anything. Sorry couldn’t be of more help,” Kurt said.

  “Yes, thank you. I appreciate your assistance.” Angus peered at the blank screen of his computer for a few moments. Who? He’d checked every available record and according to those, he and Silas were the only two who remained. But the original books were destroyed, and these were recreated based on memories of those who claimed to remember. Grandfather wouldn’t help identify the person when Angus sought his guidance. In fact, the old wolf refused to repeat what he shared with David.

  Angus clenched his fist as he glanced at the clock, the seconds ticked and they were no closer to finding Sarita or unraveling this puzzle. Tyrese strode into the room after delivering his aunt and her mate to the hotel.

  “Anything from Hawke?” Tyrese asked.

  “They arrived safely and have joined the search, some areas were heavily populated. It’s taking some time, but Hawke feels confident they’ll find Trant,” Angus said.

  “Good, I heard Borian, the Alpha’s beta’s been sick for a couple days, is he any better?”

  “Alpha Samuel didn’t say,” Angus said, hoping they found Ms. Trant soon. They needed a break in this case. Silas’ anger and disappointment buffeted them all.

  Cameron entered the room holding a bottle of water. “Anything?” He looked between Angus and Tyrese.

  “Not much, we’re stuck,” Angus said, and explained what they’d found so far.

  “Shit. He killed himself? What kind of necklace was that?” Cameron asked.

  “A powerful one for sure to handle that type of programming,” Angus grunted. If this was a littermate, he or she had an excellent grasp of tuning the crystals. He’d never had any success blending it with metals found in the neck braces the Liege created.

  “We found Trant,” Hawke said through their link and gave Angus the address. “Alpha Samuel’s sending a team to scan for bombs, it’s located in the mountainside a good distance from neighbors, so that’s good.”

  Angus repeated the news to Silas, Tyrese and Cameron. “One heartbeat?” />
  “Yes, just one,” Hawke said, his answer slower than before.

  Angus tamped down his disappointment that Sarita hadn’t been found. In the back of his mind he’d hoped she would be at the same location, even though that was unlikely. “Okay, we’d like eyes and ears on the situation, if possible.”

  “Will do,” Hawke said and disconnected.

  Tyrese moved to a computer and clicked the keyboard. A picture flickered on the wall monitor and then crystallized. There were a few houses carved into the mountainside. Tyrese zeroed in on one with a large window which covered the entire front of the building.

  “This is it,” Tyrese said, and started typing. “It’s owned by Checkered Corporation.” He looked at Angus. “Wonder how many layers we’ll go through before we find anything of value?”

  “Put a couple trainees on it, right now it’s a string we need to pull,” Angus said, watching the screen.

  Tyrese nodded. “They’re on it.”

  Angus and Tyrese watched the screen, it flickered, and then Hawke, Asia and Damian came into view.

  “I have eyes, need ears,” Angus told Hawke.

  A loud blast of static filled the room and then quieted. “Sorry about that,” Hawke said. “I don’t have all the things I need and am improvising. But that’s the house, the bomb squad is almost done. Borian, Samuel’s beta, just arrived and he’s hot to go inside and retrieve his mate.”

  “Mate?” Angus said, stunned. “Trant is his mate?”

  “Yeah, he almost died a couple days past. No one knew what was wrong with him until a short while ago, somehow he made contact or something, probably saved her life,” Hawke said.

  “Probably right. I see they’re going inside. Is forensics going in after Trant’s removed?”

  “Right behind us. Asia wants to look through everything.”

  Angus didn’t want to ask but knew he had to. “Any scent of Sarita?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  “We’ll keep looking. Tyrese is checking to find out who owns the house, maybe we’ll get lucky and actually get a name we can track,” Angus said, not really expecting a break in that arena.

  “These guys are sharp,” Hawke said. “If I hadn’t created that program there’s no way we’d be here now. If they haven’t buried the ownership of this house, I’d be surprised. Have Tyrese cross-reference the corporations they used, look for a pattern, it might help unravel things faster.”

  “Good idea, we’ll get on it.” Angus shared Hawke’s advice with Tyrese, and a team of trainees immediately began tracking the layers. Angus sat back and watched as company after company was placed on the large overhead. Frowning, he wondered how they’d ever find anyone.

  “Nothing,” Hawke said some time later. “The place has been wiped clean, no scents, odors, clear prints. Forensics is working inch by inch, but so far they haven’t found anything.”

  “What about in Trant’s room? On her equipment? The camera?” Angus asked while watching the 35th company post on the monitor.

  “Not yet,” Hawke said.

  Angus heard Hawke’s frustration and changed directions. “You mentioned a pattern earlier, what did you mean?”

  “The layers on the corporations?”

  “Yes.”

  “If they are familiar with the way the Liege hid information, most dummy corps are used more than once, so pull those off whenever you see them, no need to research those again, it’ll speed things up. Also sometimes we used patterns in laying the corps which operated as a key to find the information quicker. See if any of the trainees have that skill and allow them to look at a few companies,” Hawke said.

  Angus wasn’t a hundred percent sure how all of that worked but trusted Hawke to know. “I’ll make an announcement for volunteers so we can get started. If we run into a snag I’ll contact you.” He paused. “What’s next?”

  “Alpha Samuel expanded the search. Neighbors saw men and women entering the home, but couldn’t be sure of the vehicle. One says a van, another a late model car, and another a claimed it was an SUV. So we’re going to keep searching. If you find anything, keep us in the loop.”

  “Will do.” Angus made a general announcement asking for anyone who could detect patterns to contact him.

  “Patterns?” Cameron asked. “What kind of patterns?”

  Angus explained Hawke’s theory.

  “My son, Pierre, is good with that. If you need help, let me know, he’s in the playroom with the kids now.”

  “In the compound?” Angus asked when none of the trainees volunteered.

  “Yes, I can wheel him down.”

  “What?”

  “Wheelchair, Liege messed him up and sometimes he can’t walk,” Cameron said.

  Angus nodded. “Right, sorry, I forgot. Bring him down.”

  Cameron left. Angus explained everything to Silas.

  “I don’t like involving the kids, but we need all the help we can get.” He paused. “Borian and Anita Trant, mates. Probably saved her life…even in the worst situations, our Goddess offers a ray of hope.”

  “True. How are Jasmine and the kids?”

  “Okay. Cameron’s pups opened a box when they mentioned the Liege. The moment I walked in, Adam, Renee, and Jackie hit me with questions. I should be done here in a few moments and then return there,” Silas said.

  “There’s not a whole lot going on here until we get more information.” He paused. “How’s David? Is he talking yet?”

  “No, although I heard he said something earlier in defense of his brother. He’s stubborn.”

  Angus laughed. “Wonder where he got that from?”

  “Don’t you start, Jasmine already says he’s my twin. Cameron’s here, I want to see Pierre work. There’s something about him…not sure what. David doesn’t like him.”

  That surprised Angus. David typically didn’t care one way or the other about people, it wasn’t personal. “Really? What’s the deal with Pierre?”

  Silas explained the surgeries on Pierre’s mind, the failed computer chip placement and the difficulties he now faced, which caused him to be home-schooled.

  Anger over the treatment of the young pup bubbled in Angus’ chest. “Time to contact Barticus and have him stomp all over those bastards again,” Angus said in reference to the Liege members who’d been caught and were imprisoned by Asia’s father.

  “Yes, I agree, still there’s something just a little off about this one.”

  Angus trusted Silas implicitly. “I’ll be sure to watch him as well.”

  “Appreciate it, we’re on the way.”

  Chapter 32

  Renee placed Mélange’s feet in her lap as they sat on the long beige and maroon sofa in the front section of their hotel suite. Warm splashes of color from the red toned accessories intermingled with the creamy neutral colors of the carpeting and walls. Overall, it produced an elegant cozy effect. Renee preferred it over Mélange’s home, maybe redecorations were in order.

  “Hungry?” Mélange asked, staring up at her from the opposite end of the sofa. Dressed in dark jeans and a striped fitted shirt, Renee marveled over how chic the younger woman looked resting. And to think they were in a relationship, one that could be her last, excited and scared her. The whole wolf changing thing didn’t seem real even though she’d seen the proof. Still…people didn’t just change into animals.

  “No, I ate with mama, that’s what took me so long getting back to you. She wanted to talk and visit a little.”

  Not once did mama defend her actions for keeping such a huge secret or discuss her current situation with Jacques. She refused to say if any of her babies were wolves, or explain how Renee and Jasmine became these unique human females who could mate with this entirely new species subset.

  Instead, Victoria made her displeasure over Renee’s decision to spend the night with Mélange known by voicing her unsolicited opinion often during their short meal. A stabbing pain tap-danced in Renee’s head by the time she left her m
om’s rooms and headed below to meet Mélange.

  “You?”

  Mélange stretched. “Your sister sent food and I ate while waiting.” She paused. “Thank you for giving us a chance and for being patient with me. I swear I’ll tell you everything you want to know, but I need to do it in pieces.”

  Despite wanting to know everything about Mélange, Renee wasn’t sure how much more she could handle today or tomorrow. Small doses held tremendous appeal after seeing Mélange change from a wolf into a woman. That completely blew her mind, yet she was curious about how the species came about.

  “How’d all this happen? Do you know?” Renee asked.

  Mélange frowned. “What? Mates?”

  “No. Were you born this way? I mean all your life is this how you’ve always been?”

  “Yes, we’re born this way.”

  “Any idea how long your kind has been like this? Or where it started?” Renee massaged Mélange feet but her mind raced, cataloging the possibilities of what it meant to have an entire separate race of people living together in harmony with the other. Fascinated, she stared at Mélange, eager to learn more.

  Mélange shrugged. “Since the garden I believe.”

  Renee frowned. “Garden? What garden…you can’t, no you don’t mean the Garden in the Bible? That’s not possible.” She couldn’t fathom the idea, couldn’t calculate the time, or the sheer numbers.

  “It’s possible since the Goddess was there, and she takes care of us, protects us.”

  “Goddess?”

  “Yes, we serve the Goddess of Light, Luna. She is the cornerstone of our faith, just as Yahweh or the Christo is worshipped by others.”

  “Well…that wasn’t what I expected, but it’s good to know. How long do you guys live? Are there a lot of you? What’s your social structure? Is it similar to the wolves’ with an Alpha?” Questions flew across her mind, tumbling, dancing over the other. Never had she been this excited over discovering a new civilization.

  “We have slightly longer life spans than you guys, but no one lives forever, not on this plane anyway. As far as our numbers, I don’t know. Your sister might, and yes, the social structure is very similar to our wolf brethren. However, individuals are permitted to have personal dens and reproduce. Tributes are made to the pack rather than the Alpha. From pups we’re taught to hide who we are so that we can live peacefully and reproduce.”